Newborn's death spurs extension of Mass. Baby Safe Haven Law

Tuesday

Five babies have been safely surrendered at hospitals under the original law, which was set to expire next June.

State lawmakers are extending the 2004 Baby Safe Haven Law that allows people to leave newborns less than a week old at hospitals, fire and police stations without facing legal consequences.

Five babies have been safely surrendered at hospitals under the original law, which was set to expire next June. According to Gov. Deval Patrick's Health and Human Services Office, the governor approves of the bill that the Legislature enacted Tuesday.

``With teenagers, their coping mechanisms still need to grow,'' said bill sponsor Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, who hopes the law will help overwhelmed parents. ``This will provide one option that hopefully they'll see as a good option rather than other options where the baby may not survive.'

Milford selectmen pushed local lawmakers to support the law after a dead baby boy was found in a garbage truck in January. The mother has been indicted for involuntary manslaughter in that case.

``If it saves one child then it's certainly a great idea,'' said selectmen Chairman Bill Buckley.

Buckley said the town has tried to raise awareness of the law with fliers and public service announcements produced by Milford High School students.

Assistant Principal Mike McIntyre, former teacher of the video production class that created the announcements, said students also benefit from the projects.

``If you had an adult who wasn't aware of the law, clearly a lot of our teenage girls might not have known anything,'' said McIntyre who is working with the health department to make the issue a permanent part of the class' curriculum.

The legislation also requires a semi-annual Department of Social Services review of the program's effectiveness, including how the infants move through the foster care system and adoption process.

``This has been, from all reports, a worthwhile and important protection for infants that gives some desperate parents options for the safety and well being of their baby. It is very important that we make this protection for babies permanent,'' said Sen. Marian Walsh, D-Roxbury, an early supporter of the original bill.

Besides the Milford baby, Spilka said she is aware of only one other infant who was illegally abandoned since 2004.